Fourteen Years Later...

    Fourteen years ago this week, Valerie and I said "I do" and began a wonderful adventure together on an Alaska cruise. Wednesday we celebrated our fourteenth anniversary. Well, maybe "celebrated" isn't exactly the right word. Between the two of us, life has been busy the last few months with multiple medical appointments. So a couple of months ago when I was offered a May 6 date for an overnight sleep study and saw the calendar had no medical appointments that week, I jumped at the opportunity, somehow missing the fact that it would be our anniversary. Note to self: Avoid scheduling medical procedures on your anniversary. 

    So instead of enjoying a great anniversary dinner with Valerie, there I was at Valley Medical Center (the car has been there so often it can find its way without us), and my wonderful and wise wife insisted I keep the appointment. So even though I'd rather have celebrated with my wife than with wire, lots and lots of wire, that's how I ended up looking like a zombie. Valerie has taken great delight in sharing this picture with entirely too many people, and so because I love her, I figured I should help and just put it on the blog with a Facebook link and let the comments fall where they may.

    The truth of the matter is that we have re-discovered in these last fourteen years that the joy of celebration isn't limited to special events; it's a daily adventure. Valerie's current cancer adventure regularly reminds us of the truth that in spite of bodies that sometimes groan, every single day is a fresh gift from the Lord, who loves us with a steadfast love that will never quit. There's joy to celebrate there, and with gratitude, we'll take it!